A real Minister of Music. speaks honesty and truth

The challenges of church is truly an across the board experience for staff and members. Honesty in church is often seldom heard as most are afraid to make a truth statement because of the way it will be viewed by those observing. In church last week I heard a great statement of truth that touched my heart in a very refreshing way. The Minister of Music has been asking for, recruiting, and seeking out new members for the choir. This week he announced how happy he was for those who had recently joined the choir and he expressed his public thanks. Any one who has ever been a church choir member knows that it is special when others join that particular ministry. It’s encouraging for those who have been singing their hearts away from the choir’s position because you feel the value of your ministry and service is seen by others and the importance of your work is valued and others want to help. Not a bad feeling for any church member involved in any church ministry.
The statement made by our Minister of Music was that he was “so excited about the new members who had recently joined, and he decided to pull out some old music only to realize that the new members didn’t have clue and those plans would need to be scrapped for the moment”. Now, I’m smiling deep inside as I write because those types of comments are just not typically shared on a Sunday morning in worship. It was very refreshing however.
It’s refreshing because of the honesty involved that included the great news of exciting involving others who are stepping up and the honesty of the situation that with growth new challenges develop, even for staff members who lead. So often in church, when we talk about growth and change, we think about it from only a church members position and we hardly ever consider the changes involved for the staff that are leading the effort.
Have you ever consider the challenges facing a new staff member that has just joined your churches leadership team? The adjustments from moving ones family is more then enough challenge for the average family, add on to that, the new friends their children must begin to develop and having to establish who you are again, what you believe, and let’s just add on to the list of challenges saying goodbye to all your favorite things and attempting to build new traditions is no easy journey.
Sure we can be friendly, we can offer assistance and we can even provide answers, and take them to our favorite spots, but still the real test is one that only time can provide. Seldom do we consider the change that we as church members can levy against our current leadership when we offer our suggestions without anytime for consideration or input from their point of view. Even when our church leadership has been around for sometime it is easy to forget that they too may need time and planning.
The honesty and straightforwardness of the testimony of my churches Minister of Music has me in the biggest smile. In Southern Baptist life, most folks don’t really look at the Minister of Music as a real Minister. They will describe them as the “music leader” or even as the “song leader” but rarely as a Minister like the Pastor. Personally having filled both roles I know this from first hand experience, but I also know as a Pastor when the entire staff is seen as the Representatives of Jesus, His servant, and His leadership, a church can really rock. I’m glad I heard the encouragement of the day, from the spoken word of God’s Music Man!.

Until then